TEE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION. su 



tion of the Association, make the meetings important and interesting, 

 let the council assume and deserve authority. 



While the position of the Association must depend chiefly on 

 natural fitness and development and on the spirit and character of its 

 members, there are certain changes in organization that deserve con- 

 sideration. We shall suggest some modifications which appear to be 

 either desirable at present or objects to be kept in view. 



Affiliated societies should be represented on the council, and all 

 scientific societies, whether national or local, should be affiliated with 

 the Association. The number of representatives allowed from each 

 society should be proportional to the number of members of the society 

 among the fellows of the Association. For example, each institution 

 having ten fellows might be allowed a representative and an additional 

 representative for each additional twenty-five fellows. This plan 

 includes the representation of local academies, universities, govern- 

 ment departments, etc., on the council, but might begin with the 

 societies meeting with the Association, in accordance with an amend- 

 ment to the constitution now pending. It might be well for the council 

 to elect each year three additional members to serve for a term of 

 three years. Those so elected would probably be among the most 

 efficient members of the council. The council would thus be con- 

 siderably enlarged, but its authority would be greatly increased. It is 

 of course understood that the real work of legislative bodies is done by 

 committees, and the committees of the council should be organized 

 with special care. 



The executive officer of the Association is the permanent secretary, 

 and his influence should be very great. He should either be paid a 

 reasonable salary, say $5,000, and devote his whole time to the Associa- 

 tion and the organization of science in America, or should be, as our 

 present secretary, a man of unusual executive ability, having under 

 him one or two assistant secretaries who should devote themselves to 

 the work. The secretaries of the sections should be among the most 

 efficient members of the sections, and should be elected for a term of 

 three years and re-eligible. 



The meetings should be more thoroughly organized in advance, 

 more authority being vested in the permanent secretary and council. 

 As suggested above, public lectures and discussions on the important 

 advances and current problems of general interest should be arranged. 

 For example, this year there should be reports on the relation of 

 mosquitoes to disease, on the newly established Bureau of Standards, 

 on the conduct of a national observatory, on the natural history and 

 resources of the West Indies and the Philippines, and, in view of the 

 place of meeting, on mining and irrigation. 



The time of meeting has always interfered with success. Men of 



